US Arms Export and Military Assistance Policies| ILLICIT WEAPONS TRANSFERS | LANDMINES | LATIN AMERICA | | FY98 SECURITY ASSISTANCE | CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS TRANSFERS | | POLICY CRITIQUES | OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS |  On 28 April 1998, the Joint Economic
Committee of the U.S. Congress held an informational hearing
on "Chinese Access to Dual Use and Military Technology."
On 6 April 1998, acting on the
conclusions of the Treasury Department, President Clinton issued
an executive order that bans the import of more than 50 kinds
of modified assault weapons that use large-capacity military
magazines. This order followed up on the temporary import suspension
on these weapons issued in November 1997.
Clinton Administration's testimony
to Congress and statements in support of Fiscal Year 1999 foreign
and military assistance request.
On 14 November 1997, the Clinton Administration
announced that the United States and its partners in the Organization
of American States signed the Inter-American
Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking
in Firearms, the first international agreement designed to
prevent, combat, and eradicate illegal trafficking in firearms,
ammunition, and explosives.
On 17 September 1997, the Clinton
Administration announced its decision not to sign the landmine
ban treaty just negotiated through the "Ottawa Process".
On 1 August 1997, the White House
released a statement which reversed a nearly 20 year ban on high
technology weapons transfers to Latin America. This decision
was made after a year-long debate within the Administration and
years of lobbying by U.S. aerospace industries for the change.
Clinton Administration's testimony
to Congress for Fiscal Year 1998 military assistance.
On 27 September 1993 President Clinton
directed his administration to review U.S. policy on conventional
arms exports. The review---Presidential Review Document-41---was
conducted over a one and a half year period. On or about 12 February
1995 President Clinton signed off on the policy (Presidential
Decision Directive-34), which is classified. On 17 February the
White House released the following factsheets describing the
policy.
The following are critiques of the
Clinton Administration's record on arms trading.
In June 1996, a presidential advisory board critiqued the
Clinton Administration's policy.
State Department's Defense
Trade News
Laws Governing Arms Exports and Assistance
Regulations Limiting Arms Exports and Assistance
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